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Understanding Your Rights as a Tenant

admin — Sun, 02 May 2010 00:10:00 +0000

Moving into a new house or apartment is an exciting time. Although moving is not always fun , getting established and making your new place home is often a rewarding process. This is particularly true if it is your first place. However, this joy can quickly be over shadowed if your landlord takes advantage of you as a renter and you don’t understand your rights.

The easiest way to avoid this situation or decrease the likelihood of it occurring is paying attention when you sign your lease. It is very important that you read and understand everything that you are signing and that both you and the landlord are on the same page about what is expected. Unless there is something against the law, everything in the lease is legally binding.

Understanding your rights as a tenant is an important part of renting property . While there are hundreds of laws out there protecting the rights of tenants, many of them specific to each state, there are some that are consist across the board.
Every tenant has the right to humane living conditions. This means that the landlord cannot have your utilities turned off or cause them to be turned off. This also means that the landlord is responsible for making sure that the electricity, heater, and water work and that the building is structurally sound. Everything should be within the health and safety codes for your area.

The landlord cannot drop by unannounced or come into or on the property while you are away. If the landlord does need to come by for repairs or emergencies, they are typically required to give at least 24 hours notice. It is not acceptable for them to come into your home while you are away.

We are all familiar with the purpose and practice of collecting a security deposit. Many states have laws restricting the amount that a landlord can collect for a security deposit as well as the conditions for returning it or keeping it. One way to avoid problems in this area is by photographing and documenting any damages on the property before moving in. If there is a dispute over the landlord charging you for damages, ask for an itemized list.

This is just the beginning of the rights that tenants have. It is up to you to stay informed of the laws and aware of your rights; though many problems can be avoided by understanding your rental agreement and working with property manager you can trust .

Understanding Your Rights as a Tenant is a post from: The Art of Business

Philadelphia’s Spring Camp for Kids

admin — Wed, 31 Mar 2010 00:10:00 +0000

I have to be in Philadelphia at the end of March for a conference my boss wants me to attend, my son will have to come with me, because there’s no one to watch him while I’m gone. I’ve never had to travel from home before, and travel with my son while on business. So, I went online to see if there’s anything to occupy my sons time, while I’m busy at the conference learning new management skills.

First, I checked to see where my hotel was located to see what might be close by for him to do, and that’s when I found out about the ‘Please Touch Museum’ where there are activities that will keep my overly-inquisitive son busy for hours. The exhibits are geared for children to stay happy for hours and the funds raised by the museum helped restore the last remaining structure built during the 1876 Centennial Exhibition, which is where the Please Touch Museum took up residence.

But, I still needed to find something that would occupy his time for a whole week and for the entire day. I could take him to the conference with me, but that will only bore him, and I prefer to stimulate my son with new and exciting activities. I could try to find a nanny, but I doubt I could find one on such short notice and one who could teach my son interesting things. After a lot of research online, I found the perfect solution! A spring break camp – The Science Runs Wild – a program offered in Philadelphia for children from ages 5 to 12. It begins March 30th, the day after we arrive and lasts till April 9th, the day before we leave! My son loves science and this Spring Camp Program is designed by a naturalist. The children will be able to explore outdoor exhibits like The Big Dig and Butterflies. There will be games, crafts and activities for them to do all day. They can learn about bugs, dinosaurs, perform experiments, be among live animals and learn about the environment with ‘green’ activities. I signed him up right away and luckily he got in just at the last minute, the spring camp filled up almost immediately once it was announced.

How perfect! While I’m at my conference learning how to be a better manager, my son will be over-stimulating his inquiring mind and at the end of the day, we can both share in what we learned.

Philadelphia’s Spring Camp for Kids is a post from: The Art of Business

Archaeological Excavations on the Island of Guernsey

admin — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 16:32:03 +0000

There are many sites of archaeological digs in Guernsey, the vast and richness of the cultural heritage and history is found all over the island, and provides time-lines and stories of the many different societies whom have traveled through Gurensey and history of those living on the island today in modern times. Many travel to the island, and have throughout the years to participate in the projects, some staying in a Guernsey hotel, and sometimes camping in the field.

The digs that are located in Jerbourg have produced many relics from the Iron age, including various beads, spear and arrow heads along with pottery has been found in large quantities. Remains found on the site reveal a fort that dates back to five hundred and fifty B.C.

There are many excavation sites located in the Port of Saint Peter. These reveal that the Romans had been using the island for hundreds and hundreds of years, as a stopping port between Italy, France and the United Kingdom.

A shipwreck ruins was discovered here in the harbor during the 1980′s, and has produced many relics that are not being displayed at Castle Cornet. These too, are the remains of the years of the Roman influence on the island. This site is one of many that have been discovered in the port, and is one of the most influential and important dig sites in all of North West Europe. Many of the wreck sites date back to the fourteenth century and the site has garnered attention from the science and the history worlds due the vast number of medieval remains.

The tides, the erosion, and amount of traffic through the port has had result of breaking up some of the ships, and the boards have slowly been getting washed away out to sea. The University of Southhampon has been collected the funding in the attempt to be able to lift the wrecked ships out of the waters in order to better preserve them. This is the perfect getaway for those wanting a bit of a relaxing vacation, combined with the discoveries of the archaeological world.

Archaeological Excavations on the Island of Guernsey is a post from: The Art of Business

Sports Tickets to Bee

admin — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 16:43:36 +0000

My son made me order tickets for him what is the greatest spectator Sports Ticket, the spelling Bee. I asked him why he thinks a spelling Bee is a sports event. He told me that even ESPN broadcast the Bee event, so it must be a sport. I guess if ESPN considers a spelling Bee important enough to broadcast, then it must be a sport.

I’ve always considered that a sport needs to have some physical brawn and brains has nothing to do with it and that there needs to be a field to play on, not a stage. But, when I attended the Bee along with my son, who by-the-way, is also very excellent at spelling, I noticed that emotion run high and the pain of misspelling a word is tangible. The pressure is very intense when they’re up in front of the microphone waiting to spell a word. The competition seems to even have players, umpires and rooting fans.

The players come to the front and wait for their word, the fans sit on the edge of their seats, the umpire throws out a word, a hushed silence over-comes the crowd. The player spells the word and is successful. The fans cheer and the player smiles and returns back to their seat. Then the next player approaches, will they spell the word correctly? No, they don’t the umpire hits the buzzer informing the fans of the misspelled word and a rumble of disappointment flows through the fans and the player slumps and walks off stage. So, intense, so thrilling. I would’ve never have imagined a Bee could be just as emotional as being at a football game.

At the end of the competition the winner is presented with a trophy and the crowd roars with approval and the player wears a smile of champions. But, not only does the player get a trophy, they also get a cash prize. Enough to save for college tuition. I looked over at my son and wondered if he’d be interested in playing the sport, Bee?

Sports Tickets to Bee is a post from: The Art of Business